BRAZILIAN KERATIN: KNOWING YOUR CHEMICALS
- As a consumer, it is nothing less than beneficial to know exactly what you are purchasing and using. This will help you to make the most informed decision you can when it comes to investing in a Brazilian Keratin Treatment. All Keratin Treatments come in different recipes and chemicals have many names. With these different factors, it can be hard to decipher the different ingredients on the list. Regarding different mixes of Keratin, besides the endless brands, there are 2 main types of Brazilian Keratin Treatments.
- You have your salon grade treatments which last a couple of months and the at home treatments that can last up to 30 days. Do it yourself Keratin Treatments last almost a third of the time as salon treatments due to the fact that they are not as concentrated. Now to familiarize yourself with the chemicals! Hydrolyzed Keratin- keratin is a naturally occurring protein that is the base of and found in the skin, nails and hair of humans and animals. Hydrolyzed Keratin is Keratin whose chemical structure has been altered through a process using water which is called hydrolysis. As far as Keratin in Hair Treatment products, the keratin is usually extracted from animal hooves, feathers or wool.
- Aldehydes- Aldehyde is a ?chemical family?. This ?family? is a class of highly reactive chemical compounds, composed of hydrogen, oxygen & carbon and are a result of the oxidation of primary alcohols. Formaldehyde is the specific chemical contained in most Brazilian Keratin Treatments.
- It is surrounded with controversy and skepticism, making it the more significant chemical. A colorless, flammable gas that is naturally pungent is also naturally produced in the body in very small amounts. But regarding its concentration in Brazilian Keratin Treatments, .2 percent or less is considered a safe concentration of the chemical. Always be aware of products that claim to be ?formaldehyde free?. Even these treatments can include ethanol, methanol, and formalin, as well as chemicals from the aldehyde family such as acetaldehyde. For a rule of thumb, any chemical ending in ?-aldehyde? can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and skin even if the product states that it is ?formaldehyde free?.
